More than reading - Literacy council's goal is to help adults overcome obstacles

Margarita Carmona (foreground) and Emma Carmona read notes in their Intro to English class at the Adult Literacy Council of the Concho Valley. The Carmonas speak Spanish, but want to communicate more fluently in English. The San Angelo City Council has recognized September as San Angelo Literacy Month.

It hasn't always been easy for Hortencia Casañeda to find the time.

She's a mother of five who lives in Miles, about 20 miles northeast of San Angelo. Every day, she drives to San Angelo to work in Sunset Mall, and finding enough hours to take care of her family, work and study at the Adult Literacy Council of the Concho Valley can be difficult.

However, it's worth the effort to earn her GED and learn more about computers, she said.

"Every day, we use computers," she said. "It's not like the old times where you just fill out a job application. Computers are part of everything we do."

Casañeda, 45, is among the hundreds of people who use the numerous programs at the literacy council at 59 E. Sixth St. in San Angelo. In addition to teaching people to read, the council helps people learn computer skills and prepare for the GED and college entrance exams, and holds classes for people who want to become U.S. citizens.

Others just want to learn how to send e-mails to their grandchildren, said Marilyn Golightly, the council's executive director.

The San Angelo City County named September as San Angelo Literacy Month.

The council has two paid staff members. Most of the people who work there are volunteers. The group's major book sale fundraiser is Oct. 18-21 at United Blood Services, 2020 W. Beauregard Ave.

The council also holds Souper Luncheons during the lunch hour one Thursday a month on topics such as finances, career development and health literacy.

The October topic is dressing professionally on a budget.

The council helps "anyone who walks in and has a need," Golightly said. "We have taken adult literacy, and we haven't put it in a box. When we see a need, we try to address it."

Casañeda grew up in Mexico and never attended school as a young person there. She moved to the United States in 1979 and eventually taught herself to speak and read English.

Writing still gives her some trouble.

By watching her children go through school, she knew she could learn to write, too.

Casañeda goes several times a week to the Adult Literacy Council of the Concho Valley to improve her English writing and computer skills. She also is working on earning a GED.

"My family means everything to me," she said. "I want to show them I can do it. This is good for me and my family."

Carolyn Griffin, a retired San Angelo teacher, has volunteered the past four years for the council. Griffin, 74, teaches math one-on-one in the Tom Green County jail and helps prepare female inmates for the GED exam.

The biggest difference between her and the people she teaches in jail, Griffin said, is she had a good education growing up and had an avenue to make money. Many inmates she teaches did not get an education as young people.

Griffin gives her students homework and said the female inmates who have a high school diploma enjoy helping the ones who don't prepare for the GED. Giving those women hope is an important aspect of the program, she said.

"They want to learn," Griffin said.

"They want to turn their lives around. They realize that getting a GED is really the key to open possibilities of a better job or better training.

"They really regret having quit school."

Noraemilia Moreno taught phonics and citizenship to Anh Thai, who was born in Vietnam. Thai is learning English at the center and teaching it to her parents at home.

Moreno also travels to Eldorado three times a week to work with people there.

"I just want to help the community," Moreno said. "I see how this helps. They are excited about it."

Casañeda, the mother of five, definitely is.

"I want something better," she said. "A lot of people don't know we have this place. We have a lot of programs here, and I would tell anyone to come look."